🎉 Wee Weekender | 4–5 July 2026 – Big Trucks, Mela Magic & Mad Hatter Tea! 🚛🎨🫖

Hello Wee Weekenders! 👋

July is here and the summer holidays are officially in full swing. This weekend's lineup is a proper mix — big trucks at the Riverside, the return of Glasgow Mela in Kelvingrove, and even a Mad Hatter's Tea Party over in Paisley.

There's a good spread of summer camps kicking off too, so if you're already looking ahead to filling those long weeks, we've got you covered.

Let's dive in…

🐸 A Wind in the Willows Adventure

Head to RSPB Lochwinnoch and help Mole track down his friends in the Wild Wood. There's a trail to follow, Toad's Top Tasks to complete, and a prize waiting back at the Visitor Centre. Perfect for a gentle wander with the wee ones.

📍 RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Lochwinnoch
⏰ 3–5 July, 10am–4pm
💷 £5.50
👉 More info

💃 Dance Capital Themed Summer Camps

Four themed weeks of singing, dancing, acting and crafts over at the Bishopbriggs studio. Take your pick from Detective Academy, Lilo & Stitch, Aloha Adventure or Camp SIX for the older kids. Great for confidence-building and burning off some serious summer energy.

📍 Dance Capital, Bishopbriggs
⏰ Mon–Fri throughout July, 10am–2pm
💷 £30 per day / £150 per week (20% sibling discount)
👉 More info

🦖 Designosaurs – Summer at Glasgow Science Centre

Build a dinosaur, launch an experiment, catch a planetarium show — all in one day. It's included with day entry alongside 300+ interactive exhibits and live science shows. A brilliant rainy-day backup (or sunny-day treat).

📍 Glasgow Science Centre, Glasgow South Side
⏰ 3–30 July, 10am–5pm
💷 £13.57 adults / £10.49 children
👉 More info

💪 Kid's Summer Camp at Elation Gym

An hour of proper workouts, running and gym-equipment basics, tailored to your child's level. Great if your kids are already into sport and want to build fitness — or just fancy trying something new.

📍 Elation Gym Glasgow, Glasgow North
⏰ Friday 3 July, 10am–11am
💷 £235 for 6 weeks / £185 for 4 / £125 for 2 / pay as you go
👉 More info

⚽ North Kelvin Summer Football Camp

Six weeks of football fun at Garscube, packed with games, skills and pitch time. A firm favourite for football-mad kids looking to keep active through the holidays.

📍 Garscube Sports Complex, Glasgow West End
⏰ Mon–Fri throughout the summer, 10am–3pm
💷 £70 per week / £16 per day
👉 More info

🫖 Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Wonderland has landed in Paisley! Alice-inspired afternoon tea, quirky décor, a 360° photo booth and plenty of themed treats to devour. A lovely one for a birthday treat or just a bit of holiday magic.

📍 Browns Lane Paisley, Paisley
⏰ Friday 3 July, 1pm–2.30pm
💷 Adults £25 / Children £12
👉 More info

🏃 Summer Camps – Giffnock North AC

Weekly athletics camps for 5–12 year olds at Hutchesons' track and sports hall. Four hours a day of running, jumping and throwing with brilliant young coaches. Early drop-off from 8am if you need it.

📍 Hutchesons Grammar School, Glasgow South Side
⏰ Mon–Fri, 9am–1pm
💷 £75 non-members / £72.50 sibling rate
👉 More info

🚛 Big Truck Weekend at Riverside Museum

Classic and modern trucks parked up on Events Square, with the chance to get up close and even toot the horn. There's a quiet hour on Saturday 10–11am for anyone who'd prefer a calmer visit. Free and no booking needed — an easy Saturday sorted.

📍 Riverside Museum, Glasgow West End
⏰ Saturday 10am–4pm / Sunday 11am–4pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🎮 Glasgow Anime & Gaming Con

Two days of voice actors, cosplay panels, gaming zones and live performances at the DoubleTree. Cosplay Masquerade, Lip Sync Battle and Talent Show all up for grabs. A dream weekend for your anime-obsessed big bairns.

📍 DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central, Glasgow City Centre
⏰ Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 July
💷 See website
👉 More info

🎪 Hamilton Summer Gala Day

The kick-off event for Hamilton SummerFest, packed with live music, market stalls, face painting, balloons and street theatre. The Bandstand Stage has performances all day including SheBoom, Greatest Showman and a Taylor Swift tribute. A brilliant free family day out.

📍 Hamilton Town Centre
⏰ Saturday 4 July, 10am–4pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🌞 Loch Lomond Shores Summerfest

Live music, street food and family entertainment with the loch as your backdrop — hard to beat. Pop by for an hour or make a full day of it. Free, chilled, and gorgeous when the sun's out.

📍 Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch
⏰ Saturday & Sunday, 10am–5pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🐶 Barklove

SWG3 goes full doggo for the day, with stalls, workshops, wellbeing sessions and plenty of playful moments — with or without a pup in tow. If your crew are dog-mad, this is heaven. Dogs go free but need a ticket.

📍 SWG3, Glasgow West End
⏰ Sunday 5 July, 11am–5pm
💷 £6.70–£12.34
👉 More info

🎨 Glasgow Mela

Scotland's biggest free multicultural festival is back at Kelvingrove Park! Expect music, dance, poetry, global street food, artisan crafts and family workshops celebrating South Asian culture. Part of the Commonwealth Games Festival this year, so the lineup is extra special.

📍 Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow West End
⏰ Sunday 5 July
💷 Free
👉 More info

🎈 IKEA Fun Day

Face painting, balloon modelling and Dala Horse decorating in the customer restaurant — all completely free. A brilliant little Sunday afternoon add-on (meatballs optional but recommended).

📍 IKEA Glasgow, Renfrew
⏰ Sunday 5 July, midday–4pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

That's your first weekend of July sorted, Wee Weekenders! 🌞

Between the trucks, the tea parties and the Mela magic, there's more than enough to keep the whole crew smiling. And if the summer camps are calling your name, now's the time to get booked in.

Whatever you get up to, hope it's a good one!

Catch you next week,
Wee Weekender 💛